St. David's Day in United Kingdom Home Calendar Holidays United Kingdom St. David's Day St. David's Day in United Kingdom People in Wales and those of Welsh origin celebrate the life of their patron saint, St David, and the Welsh culture on March 1 each year. Many people pin a daffodil or leek to their clothes and some, especially children, wear traditional costumes. Daffodils are sometimes pinned on clothes on St David's Day. Daffodils are sometimes pinned on clothes on St David's Day. ©iStockphoto.com/pixonaut What Do People Do? St David is the patron saint of Wales. March 1 is a day of celebration of both St David’s life and of the Welsh culture in Wales and in countries such as Canada and the United States. Many people attend special church services, parades, choral recitals or Welsh literature readings. Schools plan celebrations, often involving choirs, on the day. The Welsh flag, a red dragon on a white and green background, is displayed prominently and a festive mood prevails. Children, particularly girls, and some adults wear traditional costume. Other people may pin a daffodil or a leek to their clothes as these are symbols of Wales.

The traditional meal on St David's Day is cawl. This is a soup that is made of leek and other locally grown produce. Public Life St David's Day is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom or countries such as Canada and the United States. Therefore government offices, schools, post offices and businesses are open. However, it is a day of celebration so many schools, institutions and even businesses will have a special program for the day. Some villages and towns hold special parades so there may be some local disruption to traffic or public transport. Background St David plays a very important role in Welsh culture but little is known about his life. It is believed that he lived to be 100 years old and that he died in 589, but the first texts on his life only appeared around five hundred years after his death. This means that it is difficult to tell which aspects of the St David’s story are true and which are legend. He was supposed to have been very gentle and physically strong and tall despite eating a frugal diet. His parents were Sant, the grandson of a prince of Ceredigion in south-west Wales, and Non, a niece of the legendary King Arthur.

St David travelled widely throughout Wales, Cornwall in the south-west of England, Brittany in France and possibly to Ireland and Jerusalem. He founded several churches and a monastery in Wales and eventually became an archbishop. St David was canonized in 1120 and March 1 was included in the church calendar as St David's Day. People started making pilgrimages to St David’s monastery after he was canonized. A cathedral still stands on its original site. Symbols The Welsh flag, which features a red dragon on a white and green background, is often seen around the date of St David’s Day. Many people also pin a daffodil or a leek to their clothes as symbols of Wales. St. David's Day Observances St. David - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Saints & Angels Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Facts Take the Saints Trivia Quiz now! According to tradition, St. David was the son of King Sant of South Wales and St. Non. He was ordained a priest and later studied under St. Paulinus. Later, he was involved in missionary work and founded a number of monasteries. The monastery he founded at Menevia in Southwestern Wales was noted for extreme asceticism.

David and his monks drank neither wine nor beer - only water - while putting in a full day of heavy manual labor and intense study. Around the year 550, David attended a synod at Brevi in Cardiganshire. His contributions at the synod are said to have been the major cause for his election as primate of the Cambrian Church. He was reportedly consecrated archbishop by the patriarch of Jerusalem while on a visit to the Holy Land. He also is said to have invoked a council that ended the last vestiges of Pelagianism. David died at his monastery in Menevia around the year 589, and his cult was approved in 1120 by Pope Callistus II. He is revered as the patron of Wales. Undoubtedly, St. David was endowed with substantial qualities of spiritual leadership. What is more, many monasteries flourished as a result of his leadership and good example. His staunch adherence to monastic piety bespeaks a fine example for modern Christians seeking order and form in their prayer life.His feast day is March 1.

Thousands watch parades celebrating St David's Day - BBC News BBC News Thousands watch parades celebrating St David's Day 1 March 2015 Close share panel Image caption The Welsh Guards on parade at Cardiff Bay on Sunday Wales' patron saint has been celebrated across the country with a series of special events to mark St David's Day. In Cardiff, thousands of people watched the national St David's Day celebrations. Meanwhile, the Welsh Guards celebrated 100 years of the regiment with a parade in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff Castle has also held a free day of Welsh music and entertainment. In Pwllheli, Gwynedd, the parade had a Patagonia theme to mark 150 years of the Welsh colony in South America . Two horses took part, with some marchers wearing ponchos and others carrying the Argentinean flag. Speaking about the Cardiff parade, Major General Robert Talbot Rice, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, said: "For us it's a real delight to be in Cardiff on such a special day and during what is a truly significant year for us.

Media captionBellydancers joined thousands of people in Cardiff for the parade "It is 100 years ago to the day since the regiment mounted its first King's Guard. "We wanted to do something in the Welsh capital to mark this occasion and we will make our presence felt all across Wales during 2015." Prime Minister David Cameron also marked the Welsh patron saint's day by sending a goodwill message. "I would like to extend my warmest wishes to everyone in Wales, across the UK and beyond, who'll be celebrating St David's Day on Sunday," he said. "This special day provides us all with the opportunity to celebrate all that embodies Wales. "A great nation which always shows pride and passion, a country rich in history with a great industrial, agricultural and cultural heritage." Media captionHundreds watch St David's Day parade in Cardiff and Pwllheli Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption The Welsh Guards choir, made up of serving soldiers, performed in the opera house Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption Fifteen Welsh Guards runners set off near the Wales Millennium Centre.

They are running 100 marathons in 19 countries, near the sites where the Welsh Guards achieved battle honours Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption A total of 400 Welsh Guardsmen took part in the parade in Cardiff Bay Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards on parade for St David's Day in Cardiff Bay Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption 400 ceremonial leeks were handed out to every soldier from the Welsh Guards Image copyright Bdr Murray Kerr RA Image caption Field Marshall Lord Guthrie presented traditional ceremonial leeks to every officer and guardsman Image caption Hundreds of people watched The Welsh Guards band perform Image caption The weather stayed fine in the morning for the Welsh Guards parade Image caption Two horses took part in the Pwllheli parade with riders wearing ponchos Image caption Hundreds of people watched the St David's Day parade in Pwllheli, which had a Patagonia theme Image caption Flags of St David and Wales being waved in Pwllheli Image caption Drum groups kept the tempo going in Pwllheli Saint David and Saint David's Day Saint David and Saint David's Day Adapted from a talk given at OICCU Meeting

 Point, in Regent's Park College, Monday, 28th February 1994 If you were lucky enough to be in Wales on March the first, you would find the country in a festive mood.

Every self-respecting man, woman and child would be celebrating St. David's Day in one way or another. But who was St. David, and why is he so important to the Welsh? And just how is St. David's Day celebrated in Wales today? Well, Saint David, or Dewi Sant, as he is known in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life, he was the archbishop of Wales, and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain. For details of the life of Dewi, we depend mainly on his biographer, Rhigyfarch. He wrote Buchedd Dewi (the life of David) in the 11th century. Gerallt Gymro (Giraldus Cambrensis), who wrote a book about his travels through Wales in the 12th century, also gives some information about Dewi's early life. Dewi died in the sixth century, so nearly five hundred years elapsed between his death and the first manuscripts recording his life.

As a result, it isn't clear how much of the history of Dewi's life is legend rather than fact. However, both sources say, so we can be relatively certain, that Dewi was a very gentle person who lived a frugal life. It is claimed that he ate mostly bread and herbs - probably watercress, which was widely used at the time. Despite this supposedly meagre diet, it is reported that he was tall and physically strong. Dewi is said to have been of royal lineage. His father, Sant, was the son of Ceredig, who was prince of Ceredigion, a region in South-West Wales. His mother, Non, was the daughter of a local chieftain. Legend has it that Non was also a niece of King Arthur. Dewi was born near Capel Non (Non's chapel) on the South-West Wales coast near the present city of Saint David. We know a little about his early life - he was educated in a monastery called Hen Fynyw, his teacher being Paulinus, a blind monk. Dewi stayed there for some years before going forth with a party of followers on his missionary travels.

Dewi travelled far on his missionary journeys through Wales, where he established several churches. He also travelled to the south and west of England and Cornwall as well as Brittany. It is also possible that he visited Ireland. Two friends of his, Saints Padarn and Teilo, are said to have often accompanied him on his journeys, and they once went together on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to meet the Patriarch. Dewi is sometimes known, in Welsh, as 'Dewi Ddyfrwr' (David the Water Drinker) and, indeed, water was an important part of his life - he is said to have drunk nothing else. Sometimes, as a self-imposed penance, he would stand up to his neck in a lake of cold water, reciting Scripture. Little wonder, then, that some authors have seen Dewi as an early Puritan! He founded a monastery at Glyn Rhosyn (Rose Vale) on the banks of the small river Alun where the cathedral city of St. David stands today. The monastic brotherhood that Dewi founded was very strict, the brothers having to work very hard besides praying and celebrating masses.

They had to get up very early in the morning for prayers and afterwards work very hard to help maintain life at the monastery, cultivating the land and even pulling the plough. Many crafts were followed - beekeeping, in particular, was very important. The monks had to keep themselves fed as well as the many pilgrims and travellers who needed lodgings. They also had to feed and clothe the poor and needy in their neighbourhood. There are many stories regarding Dewi's life. It is said that he once rose a youth from death, and milestones during his life were marked by the appearance of springs of water. These events are arguably more apocryphal than factual, but are so well known to Welsh-speaking schoolchildren that it is worth mentioning them here. Perhaps the most well-known story regarding Dewi's life is said to have taken place at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi. They were to decide whether Dewi was to be Archbishop. A great crowd gathered at the synod, and when Dewi stood up to speak, one of the congregation shouted, 'We won't be able to see or hear him'. At that instant the ground rose till everyone could see and hear Dewi.

Unsurprisingly, it was decided, very shortly afterwards, that Dewi would be the Archbishop... It is claimed that Dewi lived for over 100 years, and it is generally accepted that he died in 589. His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhigyfarch transcribes these as 'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.' 'Do the little things' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain') is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh, and has proved an inspiration to many. On a Tuesday, the first of March, in the year 589, the monastery is said to have been 'filled with angels as Christ received his soul'. Dewi's body was buried in the grounds of his own monastery, where the Cathedral of St. David now stands. After his death, his influence spread far and wide - first through Britain, along what was left of the Roman roads, and by sea to Cornwall and Brittany.

St David's Day, as celebrated today, dates back to 1120, when Dewi was canonised by Pope Callactus the Second, and March 1st was included in the Church calendar. After Dewi's canonisation, many pilgrimages were made to St. David's, and it was reported that two pilgrimages there equalled one to Rome, and three pilgrimages one to Jerusalem. March 1st was celebrated until the Reformation as a holy day. Many churches are dedicated to Dewi, and some to his mother Non. It is not certain how much of the history of St. David is fact and how much is mere speculation. At the end of 1996, bones were found in St. David's Cathedral which, it was claimed, could be those of Dewi himself. Unfortunately, these were later found to be medieval remains. Regardless of this, St. David was, and is, a very important figure to the Welsh. Naturally, then, St. David's Day is a time of great celebration in Wales. Societies all over Wales celebrate with special meetings and events. In St.

David's Hall, Cardiff, each March 1st, there will be a concert featuring a 1000-member male voice choir, specially formed for the occasion. Male voice choirs are flown to all corners of the globe on St. David's Day, to entertain Welsh communities. I have my own happy, vivid and very special memories of St. David's Day as a child, which are typical of how St. David's Day is celebrated in Welsh schools. I should say that I was fortunate to be born into a Welsh-speaking family. My mother tongue is Welsh, and it is only when we have English-speaking visitors that any English is heard within my home. Naturally, I attended a Welsh-medium primary school, where all subjects except English are taught through the medium of Welsh. St. David himself spoke an old form of Welsh fourteen centuries ago, and the Saint has become synonymous with keeping the language alive, and all that is good in the Welsh way of life. Welsh is one of the oldest living European languages, and although it has been oppressed for centuries, it has refused to die and is alive and growing today.

The Welsh medium schools, which have largely been set up during the past four decades, have played an important part in making the language an everyday language as opposed to just an academic one. St. David's Day at the primary school began with a religious service in one of the chapels or churches in Carmarthen. We went to school dressed in our Welsh costumes. The girls looked charming in a pais a betgwn - a petticoat and overcoat, made of Welsh flannel, and a tall beaver hat, worn over a frilled white bonnet. The boys wore a white shirt with a jabbot and wrist frills, a Welsh flannel waistcoat, black breeches, long woollen socks and black shoes. To complete the outfit we wore a flat beaver hat. I wore my national costume with pride until I was seven years old, and after that I had to be bribed to do so... I later wore a Welsh flannel waistcoat in honour of the great day. The pupils marched through the town, led by the Mayor and town dignitaries. People gathered to see us marching past, and to wave us on.

Little did they realise that we, the sons and daughters of Welsh Wales, almost froze to death on these mornings. After all, a white shirt was little protection against the cold winds of a March morning, despite having a woollen jumper underneath. If it rained we were doubly miserable. To add to our discomfort the churches and chapels were colder and the services long. Dewi was a strict disciplinarian: he would have been proud of us. But we went back to school for a bowl of cawl - or leek broth: the traditional St. David's Day meal. After lunch we danced Welsh dances, sang Welsh folk songs and recited Welsh poems. The highlight of the day was the judging of the longest leek competition, but I never envied the winner because he was cheered on to 'eat some of your leek'. Again, Dewi would have approved, because as you probably remember, he was also a vegetarian. At my secondary school, which was also a Welsh medium school, it was no longer compulsory to wear the Welsh costume on St. David's Day. But we still celebrated: we held an Eisteddfod - a competitive singing, dancing and reciting festival.

This lasted all day and ended with an inter-house choir competition. And needless to say, all competitions were in the Welsh language. Well, I hope that you now have some idea of who St. David was, and why he is so important to the Welsh. Dewi's words still ring down through the ages. So perhaps, as we go about our lives, we would be wise to remember his very last words, and to do the little things. Saint of the Day for March 1 (d. March 1, 589) Saint David of Wales’ Story David is the patron saint of Wales and perhaps the most famous of British saints. Ironically, we have little reliable information about him. It is known that he became a priest, engaged in missionary work and founded many monasteries, including his principal abbey in southwestern Wales. Many stories and legends sprang up about David and his Welsh monks. Their austerity was extreme. They worked in silence without the help of animals to till the soil. Their food was limited to bread, vegetables and water. In about the year 550, David attended a synod where his eloquence impressed his fellow monks to such a degree that he was elected primate of the region.

The episcopal see was moved to Mynyw, where he had his monastery (now called St. David’s). He ruled his diocese until he had reached a very old age. His last words to his monks and subjects were: “Be joyful, brothers and sisters. Keep your faith, and do the little things that you have seen and heard with me.” Saint David is pictured standing on a mound with a dove on his shoulder. The legend is that once while he was preaching a dove descended to his shoulder and the earth rose to lift him high above the people so that he could be heard. Over 50 churches in South Wales were dedicated to him in pre-Reformation days. Reflection Were we restricted to hard manual labor and a diet of bread, vegetables and water, most of us would find little reason to rejoice. Yet joy is what David urged on his brothers as he lay dying. Perhaps he could say that to them—and to us—because he lived in and nurtured a constant awareness of God’s nearness. For, as someone once said, “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence.” May his intercession bless us with the same awareness!

Saint David of Wales is the Patron Saint of: Wales St David's Day 2015: This is why Wales' patron saint is now getting a Google Doodle | The Independent St David's Day 2015: This is why Wales' patron saint is now getting a Google Doodle St David is believed to have existed around the 6th century Sunday 1 March 2015 00:21 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Google celebrates St David's Day 2015 Google Google's latest Doodle celebrates Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and his feast day which falls on the 1 March every year. Little is confirmed about the life of the saint, known as Dewi Sant in Welsh, but what we do know is that an aristocratic man from West Wales lived around the 6 century and died. Many mark the day by wearing one of the two national emblems of Wales (either a daffodil or leek) or by displaying the flag of St David, which is a yellow cross on a black background.

A small number of heritage sites, including Beaumaris Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Raglan Castle or Tintern Abbey, open for free on the day. St David, whose father was Sanctus, king of Ceredigion, is thought to have been born in 520. Some believe that his mother, a sainted nun called Nonnita, gave birth to him on the cliffs under a thunderstorm. During the medieval period it was also believed that St David was the nephew of King Arthur. Around 550, St David is thought to have founded a large monastery close by, the first of 11. Many mark St. David's Day by wearing one of the two national emblems of Wales - either a daffodil or leek (Getty) He instructed the monks under him to lead a simple life, abstaining from beer or meat. His vegetarianism and only drinking water, led to his nickname Dewi Ddyrwr (the water drinker). The monk was made an archbishop and was among the early saints who spread Christianity in western Britain. He is thought to have died in 569.

In 1120 he was canonised by Pope Callactus II, following which he was declared the patron saint of Wales. There are various miracles attached to the saint. He is reputed to have returned a boy from the dead by splashing his face with tears and for restoring a blind man’s sight. His best known miracle occurred in the small village of Llanddewi Brefi: unable to see over the crowd, after a white dove landed on his shoulder the ground rose up to elevate him from the crowd. His fame spread so much in the years after his death and burial that the Pope decreed that three pilgrimages to his shrine were equivalent to visiting Jerusalem once. A petition in 2007 to make St David’s Day a bank holiday was rejected by Tony Blair after a poll the year previously found almost 90 per cent of the Welsh wanted it. St. David's Day in the United States Home Calendar Holidays the United States St. David's Day St. David's Day in the United States Many Americans of Welsh origin annually celebrate the life of Wales’ patron saint, St David on March 1. It is also a time to people to remember the Welsh culture and to appreciate their Welsh origins.

The Welsh flag is often seen during celebrations on the day, as well as daffodils or leeks pinned to clothing. The Welsh flag is often seen on St David's Day. The Welsh flag is often seen on St David's Day. ©iStockphoto.com/AlasdairJames What Do People Do? Many people with Welsh ancestry or ties celebrate St David’s life and the Welsh culture in the United States. Some people may attend a special St David’s Day church service while others may cook a nice meal to share with friends or family. Meals may include herbed lamb chops, Welsh pot bread, or Caerphilly Crumble. Many groups may organize special events or parties that may include carrying the flag of Wales, dressing in traditional costumes, and wearing daffodils or leeks on clothing. The Welsh flag, a red dragon on a white and green background, is displayed prominently and a festive mood prevails. Public Life St David's Day is not a public holiday in the United States. However, it is a day of celebration so some community groups, schools, and businesses may have a special program for the day. Background St David is the patron saint of Wales.

He plays a very important role in Welsh culture but little is known about his life. St David's Day was recognized officially as the national day for people of Welsh origin in the United States in 2003. The Empire State Building was floodlit in the Welsh national colors, which are red, green and white, on March 1 that year. An article on St David’s Day in the United Kingdom covers more information about St David’s Day’s origins and symbols. St. David's Day Observances St. David's Day | Article about St. David's Day by The Free Dictionary St. David's Day | Article about St. David's Day by The Free Dictionary Type of Holiday: Religious (Christian) Date of Observation: March 1 Where Celebrated: Wales Symbols and Customs: Leek ORIGINS The patron saint of Wales, St. David was a monk, an ascetic, and a bishop who founded or restored many monasteries and greatly influenced religious life in Wales. Although his dates are not known for certain, he may have died around the late sixth century. He died on March 1 in the Pembrokeshire town where he'd founded his first monastery, known today as St.

David's, but his remains were later moved to the Abbey of Glastonbury. St. David's Day is observed not only in Wales but by Welsh groups all over the world. It has been observed in the United States since very early times, due to the extensive migration of Welsh people to Pennsylvania at the end of the seventeenth century. Their presence eventually led to the establishment of the St. David's Society (sometimes called the Welsh Society), whose members are known for wearing LEEKS in their hats on St. David's Day and who have worked hard to preserve Welsh history and traditions. Such groups exist in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Florida as well as in New York City, where the St. David's Society has held an annual banquet on March 1 since 1835. This is a popular day on which to hold Eisteddfodau, which are traditional Welsh festivals involving competition in singing and literature. Another popular way to observe St. David's Day is with choral singing, for which the Welsh are noted. The basis of saint day remembrances-for St. David as well as other saints-is found in ancient Roman tradition.

On the anniversary of a death, families would share a ritual meal at the grave site of an ancestor. This practice was adopted by Christians who began observing a ritual meal on the death anniversary of ancestors in the faith, especially martyrs. As a result, most Christian saint days are associated with the death of the saint. There are three important exceptions. John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus are honored on their nativities (birthdays). Many who suffered martyrdom are remembered on saint days in the calendars of several Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant sects. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Leek The leek is an herb similar to an onion and is also the floral emblem of Wales. The association of St. David with the leek is said to date back to a battle fought in the seventh century between the Welsh and the Saxons. St. David suggested that the Welsh wear a leek in their caps so they could recognize one another and avoid killing their own men. He is also said to have lived for many years on the site of what would later become one of his monasteries, eating only bread, water, and wild leeks. To this day, new Welsh army recruits must eat ritual leeks on March 1.

FURTHER READING Chambers, Robert. The Book of Days. 2 vols. 1862-64. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1990. Christianson, Stephen G., and Jane M. Hatch. The American Book of Days. 4th ed. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2000. Cohen, Hennig, and Tristram Potter Coffin. The Folklore of American Holidays. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1999. Dunkling, Leslie. A Dictionary of Days. New York: Facts on File, 1988. Harper, Howard V. Days and Customs of All Faiths. 1957. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1990. Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Leach, Maria, ed. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology & Leg- end. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984.

MacDonald, Margaret R., ed. The Folklore of World Holidays. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Urlin, Ethel L. Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days. 1915. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1992. WEB SITE New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia St. David's Day March 1 The patron saint of Wales, St. David was a sixth-century priest who founded an austere religious order and many monasteries and churches, and eventually became primate of South Wales. His day is observed not only by the people of Wales but by Welsh groups all over the world. There are large communities of Welsh throughout the United States—particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Florida—who celebrate St. David's Day with performances of choral singing, for which the Welsh are noted ( see also Eisteddfod). The St. David's Society of New York holds an annual banquet on March 1, and the Welsh Society of Philadelphia, which was established in 1802, celebrates with eating, drinking, and songs. The leek, Wales' national symbol, is often worn on St. David's Day. According to legend, when St.

David was leading his people to victory against the Saxons, he commanded them to wear leeks in their hats to avoid being confused with the enemy. In the United States, the daffodil has replaced the leek. CONTACTS: BBC - Religions - Christianity: Saint David Saint David Last updated 2009-07-31 What we know about the life of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales and one of the early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of Western Britain. On this page Saint David Saint David's Cross, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales. His day is 1st March. His influence is shown in the number of churches dedicated to him in Wales and the celebrations each Saint David's Day. Saint David factfile There aren't many facts about St David; but here are the only undisputed ones.

He really existed He was at the heart of the Welsh church in the 6th century He came from an aristocratic family in West Wales His mother was a saint, Saint Non His teacher was also a saint, St Paulinus He founded a large monastery in West Wales He was one of the early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of Western Britain He became Archbishop of Wales, but remained in his community at Menevia (now called St Davids) He was active in supressing the Pelagian heresy His shrine became a great place of pilgrimage; four visits to the shrine at St David's were considered the equivalent of two to Rome, and one to Jerusalem! The most famous story about Saint David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd and the ground is said to have risen up, so that he was standing on a hill and everyone had a better chance of hearing him. Celebrations Girl in national costume of Wales © St David's Day has been a national festival in Wales since the 18th century, and is still marked with gusto. Many people will wear either a daffodil or a leek, which are both symbols of Wales.

The other Welsh symbol, Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon, Wales's national flag), will be flown on many more buildings than usual. Concerts are held to mark the occasion, particularly male voice choirs. Primary schools Saint David's Day begins in many Welsh primary schools with a religious service. Children dress in the traditional Welsh costumes. Folk dancing in the ruins at Saint David's © Girls wear a petticoat and overcoat, made of Welsh flannel, and a tall hat, worn over a frilled bonnet. Boys wear a white shirt, a Welsh flannel waistcoat, black trousers, long wool socks and black shoes. Chilldren enjoy traditional Welsh dances, sing Welsh folk songs and recite Welsh poems. Secondary schools Some secondary schools in Wales celebrate the Saint's day with an Eisteddfod, a festival of singing, dancing, and reciting. The climax of the Eisteddfod is often a choir competition. David's life Saint David and the spin doctor Most information about the Saint comes from a biography written by Rhygyfarch in the eleventh century. But because it was written so long after the Saint's death, it isn't likely to be very reliable.

Anyway, Rhygyfarch was a bit of a spin-doctor, and slanted his book to make the case for the Welsh church being independent of Canterbury. One writer describes Rhygyfarch's book as "chiefly a tissue of inventions". So most of what we know about Saint David is really legend; and none the less inspiring for it. Before his birth The first legend is set 30 years before David was born when an angel foretold his birth to Saint Patrick. The legend of his birth Saint David's father was a prince called Sant, son of the King of Cardigan. His mother, Non, was the daughter of a local chieftan (and possibly the niece of King Arthur). But David wasn't the child of a love-filled marriage. He was born after his father either seduced or raped Non, who went on to become a nun. Non left her family and gave birth by the sea. So intense was the birth that her fingers left marks where she grasped the rocks. As David was born a bolt of lightning from heaven struck the rock and split it in two.

The legend of his baptism St David was baptised by Saint Elvis of Munster, and it is said that a blind man was cured by the water used for the baptism. David's early life, and another legend David was schooled at the local monastery, Hen Fynyw, which is south of present day Aberaeron, and was taught by Paulinus, a blind monk. David cured Paulinus of his blindness by making the sign of the cross. Realising that David was a special and holy person, Paulinus sent him off as a missionary to convert the pagan people of Britain. Saint David's Cathedral, near his original community © David the monk The message of Saint David Saint David the preacher © David was a great church leader, but not in the sense of a present day bishop or archbishop. He was a prophet and a teacher, a man of prayer and a miracle worker. He was the heart of the monastic community he founded in what is now St Davids, and through his direct teaching, and the work of the monks he influenced, he shaped the spirituality of his time and place. A monk's life David believed that monks should live simply, and he prescribed a harsh life for his followers.

As well as praying and celebrating mass, the brothers had to work hard. They rose at dawn for prayer, and then worked in the monastery and the fields around it. David would not allow them to make animals work for them, but made them pull the plough themselves, saying, "every man his own ox." And while they worked, they continued to pray. They had a spare diet, too, eating only vegetables and bread, and having only milk and water to drink. St David himself drank only water, and is sometimes known in Welsh as 'Dewi Ddyfrwr' (David the water drinker). St David's monks were expected to remain silent, except for prayer or in emergency. But though it was a hard life, David's holiness and personal charisma were enough to hold the community together in the service of God. The example of his life, and the modernity of his most famous saying - that we should concentrate on "doing the little things in God's presence with conscientiousness and devotion," make St David a figure with a contemporary appeal. David's last message Saint David is represented with a dove © St David is often shown with a dove on his shoulder.

The bird symbolises the Holy Spirit which gave David the gift of eloquence as he preached the Good News of Christianity. But although he was a great preacher, the message by which St David is most remembered is not a flowery piece of preaching but a simple statement about simplicity. It comes from his last sermon... In his last sermon David told his monks to "do the little things, the small things you've seen me doing". Archbishop Rowan Williams thinks that phrase resonates with modern people because... ...it reminds us that the primary things for us are the relationships around us, the need to work at what's under our hands, what's within our reach. We can transform our domestic, our family relationships, our national life to some extent, if we do that with focus and concentration in the presence of God. Rowan Williams St. David's Day 2015: 10 things you need to know - Mirror Online St.

David's Day 2015: 10 things you need to know With Google celebrating Wales' national day with a Google Doodle, here are some facts about it Share Daffodils: Happy St.David's Day (Photo: Getty) Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email 1. St David’s Day falls every year on March 1. This was the date patron saint of Wales, St. David died in 589. 2. It wasn’t until the 18th century, though, that St David’s Day was declared a national day of celebration in Wales. 3. Saint David is typically depicted holding a dove, and often standing on a hillock. His symbol is the leek. 4. In 2007 Tony Blair rejected calls for St. David’s Day to become a Welsh national holiday, despite a poll saying that 87% of Welsh people wanted a March 1 holiday. 5. A Welsh stew, named Cawl and containing lamb and leeks, is traditionally consumed on St. David’s Day. 6. Across Wales on Mar 1 St.

David’s Day parades take place, and in bigger cities food festivals, concerts and street parties also occur. 7. 2009 saw the inaugural St. David’s Week festival in Swansea, a week-long event featuring music, sporting and cultural events. 8. Bizarrely, Disney's Mickey and Minnie were turned Welsh last year for the Disneyland Paris St David's Welsh Festival. 9. St David's Day in Welsh is Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant. 10. Despite the fact that Saint David abstained from drinking and advised others to do the same, a number of Welsh breweries make special St. David’s Day ales.

Question: What is the date of St David's Day?
Answer: 1st March